Team Notes: Big Red Seek to Snap Losing Skid at New Hampshire

AP Photo/Mike Groll

The following article appeared December 31 on the Cornell Web site.

ITHACA, N.Y. -- After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season last week at the Florida College Classic, the Cornell men’s hockey team will look to right the ship on Sunday when it travels to New Hampshire for a 3 p.m. nationally televised game against the Wildcats in Durham, N.H. Sunday’s game will be televised live on ESPNU, while the game can also be heard in the Ithaca area on WHCU 870 AM and worldwide through the Cornell Redcast subscription service, with Jason Weinstein providing the call.

ABOUT THE BIG RED
Probably no team is happier to see 2009 come to a close than Cornell, as the Big Red dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season in Florida at the Florida College Classic. Cornell fell behind in the opener to Colorado College before cutting the deficit to 3-2, but a third-period goal provided the insurance tally for the Tigers in the 4-2 loss. In the consolation game, the Big Red faced Princeton, and fared no better against these Tigers, allowing a pair of third-period goals to fall, 3-2. Senior Colin Greening was named to the all-tournament team for his play during the week, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the two games, while junior Joe Devin added a pair of assists. For the season, Greening and classmate Blake Gallagher share the team lead in scoring with 18 points through 13 games. Gallagher has a team-best 10 goals, while Greening has team-high honors with 12 assists. Joe Devin, Riley Nash and Brendon Nash are all also in double-figures in scoring on the year, with Devin joining Greening and Gallagher in averaging a point per game or better. In goal, Ben Scrivens has been the workhorse, posting a .924 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average with one shutout. Cornell’s power play, which had entered the holiday break as the top unit in the nation, struggled in Florida, but is still converting on 28.6 percent of its chances (18-of-63) to rank second in the country. The Big Red has also killed off 87.5 percent of its opponents’ power plays (63-of-72), good for sixth-best in the nation.

ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Wildcats stand atop the Hockey East standings with an 8-2-2 league record, but are 0-4-1 in non-league games this season. UNH, which has not played since a 4-3 win at Providence on Dec. 11, has won four straight games and is unbeaten in its last seven, with its last loss coming on Nov. 13 at Massachusetts. The Wildcats offense is paced by Bobby Butler’s 24 points in 17 games, (13-11--24), while Blake Kessel (5-13--18) and Paul Thompson (8-9--17) are also averaging a point per game or better. Goaltender Brian Foster has seen the lion’s share of time this season in goal, posting a 3.44 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage. The Wildcats have converted on 12-of-75 power-play chances (16.0 percent) while killing off 54-of-72 opponents’ power plays (75.0 percent).

Complete article can be accessed via the Cornell Web site by clicking here.